Southwest Estonia Research Articles

Long-term effect of different management regimes on the survival and population structure of Gladiolus imbricatus in Estonian coastal meadows

QuestionsHow does the population structure of the threatened plant species Gladiolus imbricatus differ in the early and late stages of habitat restoration under different management regimes? What is the best management regime for the species? LocationLuitemaa Nature Reserve in Southwest Estonia. MethodsA long-term field experiment (2002–2004 and 2014–2016) studied the effect of four management regimes: (1) mowing in late July, (2) grazing by cattle, (3) grazing by sheep and (4) continuous lack of management (i.e. the control). ResultsIn contrast to the highly positive short-term response to habitat restoration, in the long term, late-season mowing was the most favourable management type for G. imbricatus. The universal increase in juveniles across treatments during the early phase of the restoration project remained high only in mown plots. For the other treatments, after 10 years, the number of juveniles declined to the starting level or lower. Additionally, in contrast to the uniformly high number of premature and generative plants across treatments during the first two years of restoration, the number of premature plants in grazed sites declined. In particular, the frequency of premature and generative plants differed between the mowing and sheep grazing treatments in the long term. The success of generative reproduction was poor in the sheep-managed pasture, as all the shoots were grazed and none had any fruits or flowers. ConclusionsWhile grazing is the most commonly subsidised restoration measure applied to coastal meadows, we recommend diversification of management types by promoting late-season mowing and reducing grazing intensity. In particular, sheep grazing must be avoided. The results of short-term evaluation of restoration methods can be misleading, and long-term monitoring must be a default evaluation task in biodiversity management support schemes.

Effect of environmental factors on the composition of terrestrial bryophyte and lichen species in Scots pine forests on fixed sand dunes

Aim of the study: To investigate terrestrial bryophyte and lichen species richness and environmental factors affecting the composition of species. Area of the study: Four Boreal zone fixed dunes were selected in the coastal area of the Baltic Sea in southwest Estonia. Material and methods: Non-metric multidimensional scaling was performed to analyse distribution patterns and environmental factors like canopy cover, photosynthetically active radiation, soil organic horizon thickness and decomposition rates, soil volumetric water content, soil pH and electrical conductivity and soil nutrients correlated with bryophyte and lichen species composition. Main results: Thirty bryophytes and 22 lichens were found on 232 sample plots, the most frequent species were Pleurozium schreberi (Willd. ex Brid.) Mitt., Hylocomium splendens (Hedw.) Schimp., Dicranum polysetum Sw. ex anon., Cladonia arbuscula (Wallr.) Flot. and Cladonia furcata (Huds.) Schrad. The lichen species richness was highest on the slopes of the dunes and decreased towards the bottoms and tops; bryophyte species richness was higher on the bottoms and decreased towards the tops of the dunes. Research highlights: The composition of bryophytes and lichens is significantly influenced by the aspect and the location on the dune, light conditions, soil pH, soil salinity (measured as electrical conductivity) and volumetric water content, thickness of moderately decomposed organic horizon and vascular plant species cover. Keywords Inland dunes; terrestrial bryophyte and lichen communities; environmental factors; topography.

Ground vegetation diversity and geobotanical analysis in dune pine forests in southwest Estonia

Abstract To investigate the ecosystems on dunes, five typical dunes were selected in the coastal area of the Baltic Sea in southwest Estonia. To study ground vegetation species richness, species composition and horizontal structure, 251 quadrats of 1 m2 in size were established and descriptions of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichen species were provided. Topographical factors, soil horizons, soil pH and electrical conductivity, soil nutrients, soil moisture conditions and light conditions were determined. In total, 42 vascular plant, 43 bryophyte and 48 lichen species were recorded on five dunes. Vascular plant species richness and composition on forested dunes was dependent on the absolute dune height, zone and aspect of the slope, soil nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus content, soil pH and moisture, the cover of the bryophyte-lichen layer and light conditions. Regarding bryophyte and lichen layer species composition, important factors were the aspect of the dune, vascular plant species cover, light conditions, the thickness of the moderately decomposed organic soil horizon, soil pH, electrical conductivity and volumetric water content. Lichen species richness was highest on the slopes of the dunes, while bryophyte species richness was higher at the bottoms and decreased towards the tops of the dunes. Ground vegetation species richness and species’ horizontal and vertical structure on forested dunes were highly dependent on topography-induced differences, aspect, height and zone of the dunes. The most important factors controlling the complex of ground vegetation were light conditions, soil water content, thickness of the moderately decomposed litter layer and soil potassium and calcium content.

Pattern or Random? Contextualising Estonian Bronze Age Bronze Stray Finds on the Landscape

The vast majority of Estonian Bronze Age (1800–500 cal BC) large metal items (axes, spearheads, sickles) are single stray finds. In contrast, bronzes from settlements are mostly associated with on-site metal casting (casting waste and broken objects), and burial sites have yielded objects of a personal nature, e.g. tweezers, razors, and clothing-related items such as buttons. Some of the stray finds have been linked to possible settlement sites. Deposition in bodies of water has been suggested as an explanation for a couple of items. Although deemed to have been precious prestige items, the reasons for their seemingly contextless find situation have until now not been systematically explored. This study addresses the character of the find locations. To infer the original deposition environment, archive material and topographical and geological data were combined. The results indicate site-specific patterns in the distribution of artefacts, with a preference for wet contexts (especially rivers). This is particularly well illustrated by two regions with bronze items from both the Early and the Late Bronze Age: Kumna in northwest Estonia, and Reiu in southwest Estonia. The patterns noted suggest intentional human activities, possibly related to the phenomenon of depositing bronzes on the landscape, as is identified in other parts of Europe. Key words: stray bronze finds, Bronze Age, landscape, depositional customs, single depositions, multiple depositions, Estonia. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15181/ab.v24i0.1564

Anomalous radioactivity level and high concentrations of heavy minerals in Lemme area, South-West Estonia

Abstract As early as in the 1960s, extensive heavy-mineral concentrations containing zircon, monazite, and xenotime were discovered in the Lemme region of south-western Estonia. These concentrations contribute to the elevated radioactivity levels of the enclosing sediments. The near shore sands of the Litorina Sea contain up to 10-cm-thick interlayers with a heavy mineral content of up to 80%. These anomalous layers were formed during the transgressive phase and result from a complicated cross- and alongshore migration of sedimentary material, derived mainly from local Devonian bedrock. Radioactivity level in the study area is higher relative to the majority of the Devonian plateau. The Lemmeoja buried soil has 13 radiocarbon dates in an area of renewed interest for the investigation of the Baltic Sea history.

Submerged Stone Age settlements and postglacial development of the Baltic Sea in southwest Estonia

Submerged Stone Age settlements and postglacial development of the Baltic Sea in southwest Estonia

Ground vegetation under natural stress conditions in Scots pine forests on fixed sand dunes in southwest Estonia

Ecosystems on dunes are influenced by critical environmental factors (mineral nutrients, water deficiency, etc.) considered decisive for their existence. The present paper is based on studies carried out on dunes on the coastal area of the Baltic Sea, southwest Estonia. The nature of forest ecosystems on dunes was studied from the aspects of chemical characteristics of soil, vascular plant species richness and diversity. Sampling sites on the dunes with different heights were selected in Cladina and in Vaccinium vitis-idaea site-type Scots pine forests. Vascular plant species richness and diversity were related to edaphic gradients. On the dune with a height of 32.1 m a.s.l., significant relationships were revealed between the number of species of ground vegetation, pH, volumetric water content in soil and the position of the sample plots. No relationships were revealed between the number of vascular plant species, soil pH, volumetric water content and mineral nutrients on the dune with a height of 9 m a.s.l. The most frequent and abundant plant species on the higher dune were Deschampsia flexuosa, Vaccinium vitis-idaea and V. myrtillus; the highest number of species were found at the bottom of the dune, while on the top only some xeromorphic species such as Festuca ovina, Sedum acre and Crepis tectorum occurred. On the lower dune, the most frequent were Vaccinium vitis-idaea, V. myrtillus and Melampyrum pratense, while V. uliginosum was found only on the bottom and slope and Empetrum nigrum on the top of the dune.

Jutustuse ja romaani vahel: Elisabeth Aspe linn. Between a story and a novel : Elisabeth Aspe’ s town

The following article analyses the description of towns in the short novels of Elisabeth Aspe: Kasuode (Stepsister, 1887), Ennosaare Ain (Ain From Ennosaare Farm, 1888), Anna Dorothea (1891) and Aastate parast (After Many Years, 1910). Aspe (1860–1927), one of the first Estonian female writers and an early realist, lived on the town border of Parnu in south-west Estonia. During this historically interesting period, towns grew rapidly, but the ideology initiated by the national awakening movement concentrated on the idea of a nation being tightly bound to the countryside. Aspe’s works are like a litmus test of her time, and were influenced by German authors (Ottilie Wildermuth, W. Heimburg and Eugenie Marlitt), as well as by the Estonian national awakening period. Her first (epistolary) novel is based on a pure opposition between the city and the country; in her later novels, the emphasis has changed: the contrasts are suddenly more ambivalent. One possible explanation is the impelling emergence of city thematics, and the early city novel replacing the village story – a process that began in Estonian literature at that time – resulting in a more complicated picture than a simple black-and-white opposition. This was a period of mapping, describing and exploring the townscape with curiosity and eagerness; also, it was a period of warning social criticism. For example, Eduard Vilde wrote a novel about factories consuming their workers, and men from country villages coming to a town. It was also a time of a fight for Estonia’s own town space, persuading the Estonian reader that he/she had the same right to live in towns, and even to govern towns, as the existing upper classes from other nationalities. In Ain From Ennosaare Farm, the protagonist has a double Estonian- German identity, belonging simultaneously to the town and to the countryside; finally, he acknowledges his ethnic origin. Throughout Aspe’s novels, the word “city” has a controversial meaning. However, the importance of the city does not preclude the importance of other landscape details in her work. Aspe’s novels do not depict the anticipated problems of the city as an industrial monster destroying the health of workers; in fact, the word factory is mentioned only once, and the novels reflect the strong inviting glow around towns. In her novels, the cityscape changes pivotally, from a medieval burg into an open space. Aspe describes two cityscapes in parallel: first, a very visual, safe and protected space with walls, where the inner safety is protected from outsiders, and then an already changed, open world with its hazards. Her characters are well aware of the changing town structure: the disappearance of walls and gates, and the loss of the borders of the previous world, which divided the world into the (free) townspeople and the peasants, the wild and the civilized. The importance of moving into cities is also anticipated in the level of language as a keyword of the era. Aspe’s novels may also be seen as momentary still-lifes during the final outbreak of city-life: fundamental changes had already taken place, but their direction was uncertain. The vision of the urban future might also have been illuminated by the attraction of other cities Aspe mentions by name, but which she had not herself had a chance to visit: for example, she describes Moscow, the old capital of the Russian emperors, as an old painting of a holy city. For closer examination of Aspe's short novels, the theoretical works of Mikhail Bakhtin, Franco Moretti and Yuri Lotman were used; the language-based survey was carried out by means of building a corpus of three novels (Stepsister, Ain From Ennosaare Farm and After Many Years) digitalized by the Estonian Literary Museum and using computer-assisted corpus-based analysis.

Morphometric parameters of pine needles in Tolkuse bog in the dune field in Southwest Estonia

Männiokaste morfomeetriast Edela-Eesti luitemaastikku ilmestavas Tolkuse rabas Needle characteristics of Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Tolkuse bog (SW Estonia) their length, dry weight and area are discussed. Samples of needles and peat were collected from seven small forest stands in Tolkuse bog in summer 2004. The sampling sites were selected from transect across the bog margin towards its centre (site I - bog margin, site VII - bog centre). Sample branches (n = 30) were collected from the southern sides of the crowns of three trees at heights of 1.5 and 3.0 m. Soil analysis of the samples showed that the pH of peat in Tolkuse bog was in the range 3.3-4.2. The nutrient concentrations of Tolkuse bog peat (% of dry mass) varied as follows: total N 0.7-1.5, total P 0.07-0.14, total K 0.02-0.06, Ca 0.14-0.51 and Mg 0.06-0.22. As compared with other sampling sites a significantly higher concentration of nutrients was observed in the peat at site V. This may explain the best growth of the needles at this site. Site VII, located in the centre of the bog between hollows where bog water is closest to the surface, had the smallest measurements of needles. This indicates that this site has the least favourable conditions for pine growth. Needles growing in the crown at a height of 3 m from the ground had a considerably smaller needle area than those at a height of 1.5 m from the ground.

Development and renewal-conditions of dune pine forests second growth in the lichen and cowberry site type in Southwest Estonia

Edela-Eesti luitemetsade järelkasvu arengust ning uuenemistingimustest sambliku ja pohla kasvukohatüübis On the southwestern coast of Estonia dune pine forest covers approximately 3000 hectares. This area includes coastal pine forests. The dune pine forest natural renewal in Southwest Estonia is the object of research. The natural regeneration of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) at the cowberry site type and at the lichen site type are observed. The necessary observations were made and primary data were collected in 1999-2006 from 28 sample plots, wherefrom 16 were situated at the lichen and 12 at the cowberry site type. The aim of the present study was to find out how old stand and forest site type influences the growth of second growth (height, height increment, age and number of trees per unit area) and its morphological parameters (length of needles and shoots and their dry mass).

Mineral nutrition of natural regeneration of Scots pine on coastal dunes in South-West Estonia

The content of nutrients in soil and needles of second-growth pines was studied on dunes of different relative height (23 m, 10 m, 5 m) in the coastal area of the Baltic Sea in South-West Estonia. Results give an insight into the nutrition status of pines on the plain and on the slopes and tops of dunes. The data obtained indicate that the logarithmic relationship is statistically significant between N, K, and Mg contents in the needles and soil and the height of the sample point on the dune. Deficiency of nutrients for the growth of pines, especially that of N and K, had developed on dunes. The study showed that on dunes the nutrition conditions and concentration of nutrients in needles depend significantly on the relative height of the growth site on the dune.

Anatomical structure and localisation of lignin in needles and shoots of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in a habitat with varying environmental characteristics

Anatomical structure and localisation of lignin in needles and shoots of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in a habitat with varying environmental characteristics We investigated the influence of a habitat with varying environmental characteristics on the anatomical structure and localisation of lignin in needles and shoots of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). A dune in South-West Estonia was chosen as the study area because it has extreme environmental characteristics: primitive sandy soil, deficiency of water, heavy winds and high light exposure. Analysis showed that the needles of all age and the current-year shoots of pines growing on the foot of the dune had the largest average cross section, mesophyll and parenchyma areas. The degree of the lignification of needles at the foot, on the slope and on the top of the dune differed distinctly. Intensive lignification of the cellular walls of the xylem was observed in needles and shoots of the pines, growing at the foot, but not in the trees growing on the top of the dune. Analysis showed that the anatomical structure and localisation of lignin, both in needles and in shoots, depend on their age, the trees location (foot, slope or top of the dune) and soil mineral composition.

Influence of the stand position on the slope and climate on latewood characteristics of Scots pine on dunes of South-West Estonia

Influence of the stand position on the slope and climate on latewood characteristics of Scots pine on dunes of South-West Estonia Radial growth, latewood width and relationships between climatic variables and latewood width of Scots pines from stands of different age growing at different positions on the slopes of dunes (foot and top) were investigated in two study sites (Hdm-1 and Hdm-2) in the region of dunes in South-West Estonia. Analysis revealed no obvious regularity between tree-ring widths of pines on the top and at the foot of the dunes. Young pines showed a better radial growth at the foot. Old pines had a slightly larger average tree ring width on the top of the dunes. The average latewood width of young pines was significantly larger at the foot of the dunes. The position on the slope had no significant effect on the average latewood percentage in tree-rings. The average latewood width of the old pines was rather equal at both positions on the slope. The average latewood percentage in tree-rings was larger at the foot of the dunes. The slightly lesser latewood percentage observed in the case of the young stand was obviously related to the young age of this stand. The latewood width of young pines was not sensitive to the temperature conditions. The latewood width was positively correlated with mean monthly temperatures of December of the previous year and of June of the current season only at the foot of the slope. The high temperatures of the winter and spring months (January-June) had a positive and the warm August of the previous year a negative effect on the latewood formation in old pines in both positions. The latewood of old pines on the top of the dunes was more sensitive to the mean temperatures of the spring months and at the foot of the dunes, to the winter temperatures. Significant correlations between latewood width and precipitation were mostly observed in the case of the old pine stand. Precipitation in all months of the previous summer and autumn and in the winter months of the current year favoured latewood formation in both positions. The latewood width in the young stand was positively correlated with the precipitation in July of the current growth season but significantly only on the top of the dune.

Chemical characteristics of soils in Scots pine forests of Cladina and Vaccinium vitis-idaea site types on coastal dunes of Baltic Sea

Chemical characteristics of soils in Scots pine forests of Cladina and Vaccinium vitis-idaea site types on coastal dunes of Baltic Sea The coastal dunes of Southwest Estonia have been undergoing a process of stabilisation and are today covered predominantly with Scots pine forests. For the investigation of soils on dunes sampling sites were selected according to topographical positions and forest site types: two sites in Cladina and two sites in Vaccinium vitis-idaea site types on dunes of different heights. The prevailing soils on dunes are Gleyic Podzols, which are generally poor in humus, water and mineral nutrients. Great differences in soil chemical components were found on the foots, slopes and tops of the dunes depending on the height of the dune. The study showed that the concentration of macronutrients (N, K, Ca, Mg) in soil decreased from the foot towards the top. On the other hand, a serious decrease in the nutrient concentration from the O horizon to the BC horizon was typical of the dunes. The soils were generally acidic, with the pH of 3.4-5.5 in the studied sampling sites. The soils were more acidic on the foots of the dune and in the O and A horizons.

Antioxidant protection and plasma carotenoids of incubating great tits ( Parus major L.) in relation to health state and breeding conditions

Carotenoids are biologically active pigments, which are important for animals due to their dual role in health maintenance and ornamental signalling. In adult birds, immunostimulatory properties of carotenoids have been repeatedly demonstrated while much less is known about the importance of carotenoids as antioxidants. We studied the relationships between plasma carotenoid levels, as well as total antioxidant protection, and various hemato-serological health state indices in female great tits ( Parus major L.), incubating their second clutches in two contrasting (coniferous and deciduous) habitats in southwest Estonia. To manipulate reproductive effort, four eggs were removed from half of the clutches during laying to stimulate females to lay additional eggs. However, egg removal had no effect on the final number of eggs laid. Plasma carotenoid levels increased seasonally in parallel with caterpillar food availability. However, no between-habitat differences in carotenoid levels, total antioxidant capacity, or indices of health state could be found despite the apparently better feeding conditions in the coniferous habitat. No correlation was detected between plasma carotenoid levels and measures of total antioxidant capacity, which suggests that at least for the adult birds feeding on naturally carotenoid-rich diet, antioxidant function of carotenoids is not of primary importance. A strong non-linear association between the measures of antioxidant protection and leukocytic markers of inflammation was found, which suggests that measures of total antioxidant capacity deserve further attention in ecophysiological studies as potential indicators of immunopathology.

Anatomical features and localization of lignin in needles of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) on dunes in South-West Estonia

Anatomical features, including localization of lignin in needles of different age, were studied in Scots pines growing in extreme growth conditions (deficit of water and nutrients in soil) on dunes in South-West Estonia. Analyses showed that the anatomy and level of lignification depend on the location of sampled trees (in the plain, on slopes, or at the top of the dune) and needle age. It was found that the average total cross-section area of needles of the trees growing on the dune decreases with age. Also the areas of xylem, sclerenchyma, and mesophyll are the largest in current- year needles. Needles of trees growing on the slope of a dune have the greatest proportion of sclerenchyma, xylem, and mesophyll in the total area of the cross-section. Their proportion is the smallest on the top of the dune. Lignification starts already in the current year and first in xylem. The structure of lignin changes over years being more compact in older needles.

A Population Genetic Characterization of Estonians

This paper discusses the genetic characterization of Estonians on the basis of eight blood group systems, and the traits of PTC tasting and colour blindness in 40 Estonian population samples from various parts of the country. The allele frequencies for the total Estonian population and for the four most different regions are presented. The survey shows genetic heterogeneity within the Estonians; the greatest genetic differences were observed in West-East direction. The West-Islands, West, and North Estonia differ from the other regions (East, South-East, also South-West and Central Estonia--which form a compact cluster). The mean allele frequencies of the Estonians are comparable to those typical for populations from North and East Europe, but the allele frequencies of Estonians are characterized by tendencies in two opposite (western and eastern) directions, like in other Finno-Ugric populations and concerning other anthropological traits. Estonians reveal closest similarities to the nearest neighbouring populations, regardless of their language group. The genetic heterogeneity and antagonistic traits in Estonians seem to be traces of the original genetic structure of Finno-Ugric ancestor populations which were neither Mongoloid nor Caucasoid.